按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
from Baltimore。 During the week； I had entered
into an engagement with a number of young friends
to start from Baltimore to the camp ground early
Saturday evening； and being detained by my em…
ployer； I was unable to get down to Master Hugh's
without disappointing the company。 I knew that
Master Hugh was in no special need of the money
that night。 I therefore decided to go to camp meet…
ing； and upon my return pay him the three dollars。
I staid at the camp meeting one day longer than I
intended when I left。 But as soon as I returned； I
called upon him to pay him what he considered his
due。 I found him very angry； he could scarce restrain
his wrath。 He said he had a great mind to give me a
severe whipping。 He wished to know how I dared
go out of the city without asking his permission。 I
told him I hired my time and while I paid him the
price which he asked for it； I did not know that I
was bound to ask him when and where I should go。
This reply troubled him； and； after reflecting a few
moments； he turned to me； and said I should hire
my time no longer； that the next thing he should
know of； I would be running away。 Upon the same
plea； he told me to bring my tools and clothing
home forthwith。 I did so； but instead of seeking
work； as I had been accustomed to do previously to
hiring my time； I spent the whole week without
the performance of a single stroke of work。 I did this
in retaliation。 Saturday night； he called upon me
as usual for my week's wages。 I told him I had no
wages； I had done no work that week。 Here we
were upon the point of coming to blows。 He raved；
and swore his determination to get hold of me。 I did
not allow myself a single word； but was resolved； if
he laid the weight of his hand upon me； it should
be blow for blow。 He did not strike me； but told me
that he would find me in constant employment in
future。 I thought the matter over during the next day；
Sunday； and finally resolved upon the third day of
September； as the day upon which I would make a
second attempt to secure my freedom。 I now had
three weeks during which to prepare for my journey。
Early on Monday morning； before Master Hugh had
time to make any engagement for me； I went out
and got employment of Mr。 Butler； at his ship…yard
near the drawbridge； upon what is called the City
Block； thus making it unnecessary for him to seek
employment for me。 At the end of the week； I
brought him between eight and nine dollars。 He
seemed very well pleased； and asked why I did not
do the same the week before。 He little knew what
my plans were。 My object in working steadily was
to remove any suspicion he might entertain of my
intent to run away； and in this I succeeded admi…
rably。 I suppose he thought I was never better
satisfied with my condition than at the very time
during which I was planning my escape。 The second
week passed； and again I carried him my full wages；
and so well pleased was he； that he gave me twenty…
five cents； （quite a large sum for a slaveholder to
give a slave；） and bade me to make a good use of it。
I told him I would。
Things went on without very smoothly indeed；
but within there was trouble。 It is impossible for
me to describe my feelings as the time of my con…
templated start drew near。 I had a number of warm…
hearted friends in Baltimore；friends that I loved
almost as I did my life；and the thought of being
separated from them forever was painful beyond
expression。 It is my opinion that thousands would
escape from slavery； who now remain； but for the
strong cords of affection that bind them to their
friends。 The thought of leaving my friends was de…
cidedly the most painful thought with which I had
to contend。 The love of them was my tender point；
and shook my decision more than all things else。
Besides the pain of separation； the dread and appre…
hension of a failure exceeded what I had experienced
at my first attempt。 The appalling defeat I then
sustained returned to torment me。 I felt assured
that； if I failed in this attempt； my case would be
a hopeless oneit would seal my fate as a slave for…
ever。 I could not hope to get off with any thing less
than the severest punishment； and being placed
beyond the means of escape。 It required no very
vivid imagination to depict the most frightful
scenes through which I should have to pass； in case
I failed。 The wretchedness of slavery； and the
blessedness of freedom； were perpetually before me。
It was life and death with me。 But I remained
firm； and； according to my resolution； on the third
day of September； 1838； I left my chains； and suc…
ceeded in reaching New York without the slightest
interruption of any kind。 How I did so；what means
I adopted；what direction I travelled； and by what
mode of conveyance；I must leave unexplained；
for the reasons before mentioned。
I have been frequently asked how I felt when I
found myself in a free State。 I have never been able
to answer the question with any satisfaction to my…
self。 It was a moment of the highest excitement I
ever experienced。 I suppose I felt as one may imagine
the unarmed mariner to feel when he is rescued
by a friendly man…of…war from the pursuit of a pirate。
In writing to a dear friend； immediately after my
arrival at New York； I said I felt like one who had
escaped a den of hungry lions。 This state of mind；
however； very soon subsided； and I was again seized
with a feeling of great insecurity and loneliness。 I
was yet liable to be taken back； and subjected to
all the tortures of slavery。 This in itself was enough
to damp the ardor of my enthusiasm。 But the lone…
liness overcame me。 There I was in the midst of
thousands； and yet a perfect stranger； without home
and without friends； in the midst of thousands of my
own brethrenchildren of a common Father； and
yet I dared not to unfold to any one of them my
sad condition。 I was afraid to speak to any one for
fear of speaking to the wrong one； and thereby fall…
ing into the hands of money…loving kidnappers；
whose business it was to lie in wait for the panting
fugitive； as the ferocious beasts of the forest lie in
wait for their prey。 The motto which I adopted
when I started from slavery was this〃Trust no
man！〃 I saw in every white man an enemy； and in
almost every colored man cause for distrust。 It was
a most painful situation； and； to understand it； one
must needs experience it； or imagine himself in
similar circumstances。 Let him be a fugitive slave in
a strange landa land given up to be the hunting…
ground for slaveholderswhose inhabitants are legal…
ized kidnapperswhere he is every moment sub…
jected to the terrible liability of being seized upon
by his fellowmen； as the hideous crocodile seizes
upon his prey！I say； let him place himself in my
situationwithout home or friendswithout money
or creditwanting shelter； and no one to